Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
g .u “L-.'-i'V““’ "“‘
14!-
Takirxg a cigar from his pocket he smoked reflec-
tively.
l’l(‘ill(lSO2IlC Harry spent his time in tramping up
and down the waiting-room, stopping at the window
about once every thirty seconds to ask why in blazes
an answer hadn't come.
Fritz and Two-Spot were playing jack-stones over
in one corner.
Ahoat lialf-past five a message arrived.
short and to the point.
“Can't stop No. 23 under any consideration."
It was
“just what I thought the super would say," ob-
served the agent.
“Confound the super an’ his one-hoss combination
of tracks an‘ ties!” ripped out Handsome Harry.
“Buy it up, son, an’ we'll run it fer the accommo-
dation of the public. Charter an ingine an’ we'll
start fer Twin Buttes on that. Hevn't they got an’
old kettle of some kind around hycr the-t’ll kerry us?”
“No locos here,” said the agent.
Bertie was paying but slight attention to his old
pard. H'.:i1dsonie Harry was occasionally compelled
to work off some extra steam and a little reckless talk
was as good a way as any.
“How far is it to Twin Buttes?“ asked Bertie of
the agent.
“Thirty-..ive miles. ”
“It would take us four or live hours to cover the
distance with horses," mused the young sport.
“There he an east-bound freiglit along an hour or
so after the Limited," suggested the agent. “Why
not wait and go on tliat?”
“I guess we‘ll have to,” answered Bertie, “but the
loss of time niay defeat our plans.”
As he turned away Two-Spot cauglit his sleeve and
led him out of the station and down to the mid of
the platform.
“I)on’t pass up old 23, Bertie,"
mysteriously.
said the boy,
“What do you mean?”
“Did you ever know me to talk through my hat in
giving you a straiglit tip?"
“Can’t remember .'hat I ever did. ”
“‘.Vell, you can bet all the big iron
in your clothes that i’m givinsr it to you strainht
. ‘ . .3 . "' ‘ 5
this time, Bertie. Wk-‘ll take the six o'clock all
right, all right, so pack your little grip and be on
deck when the flyer slows up to a halt.”
louis you got i
DIAMOND DICK, JR.-THE. BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY.)
“But don't you understand, Two-Spot? The
Limited doesn’t stop at this station.”
“Yes, it does, to-night, and for this time only.
Keep the thing quiet and get ready. Leave the rest
to Friz and yours truly. Better be up the track a
ways, just this side of the curve, and when you get
on, don’t jar the conductor by asking him if he'll
stand for the ride. He may not be in the best humor
e-probably won't-so just get aboard in any old way
you can and let him find you after the train pulls
out.”
“What are you goiiig to do?”
“Nothing that we can do time for, ” answered the
boy, with a wink. “We've got to get a hustle, Fritz.
Come on. ”
Fritz and Two-Spot disappeared around the depot
and Bertie turned to his old pard, who had come up
in time to hear the most of what had been said.
“How does that strike you, Harry?’ queried the
young sport.
>4
arry was a great admirer of Two-
Handsome I
the utmost confidence in him.
Spot and had
“The hoy‘s got some keerd or other up his sleeve,"
he clmckled, “an’ you kin lay yore bottom dollar on
it's bein’awinne1'. letter pay yer hotel bill, son,
an’ git ready fer trouble at Twin Buttes."
Although he had fully as much faith in Two-Spot
as had Handsome Harry, yet, in this instance, Bertie
feared the lad was too sanguine. Nevertlicless, he
made prepiirations to leave town, and the .st::tion agent
looked askance at Bertie when he saw him come
down from upstairs, satchel in hand and wall; along
the platform in the direction of the curve.
Fifteen minutes later the whistle of the Limited
was heard in the distance.
The operator set the “clear track" signal and Ber-
tie and Handsome Harry, having seen nothing of the
boys since they had parted, waited and wondered.
The roar of the train grew louder and louder.
Handsome Harry was visibly agitated, and tramped
nervously about the platform.
“Great gle-ory !” he muttered. “If T wo-Spot dollit
do soniethin’ this time I’ll scratch him out o’ Class
A, whar he’s been ever since I’ve known him.”
“He is doing sometliing,”
eyes down the track.
“What?” demaixded Harry, turning his gaze in
the direction his little parcl’s had taken.
The station
returned Bertie, his
agent had come out to watch the